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LG Optimus Vu may arrive stateside in a few weeks

The 5-inch LG Optimus Vu could arrive at a U.S. wireless provider in the next few weeks, fresh with support for a 4G LTE network.

An LG press release (translated) indicates that the Android smartphone is due stateside at some point in the third quarter. LG doesn't discuss carrier specifics, but recent signs indicate Verizon will be up first.

Initially announced back in February at Mobile World Congress, the Optimus Vu is meant to be a direct competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Though it sports some popular Android features like the dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 8-megapixel camera, … Read more

LG Optimus L3 misses the mark

Back in February during MWC 2012, we first caught a glimpse of LG's line of midrange Android handsets. The L7 boasted the best specs of the L-style family (it has a 1GHz processor, 4.3-inch display, and 5-megapixel camera), while the L5 followed close behind.

Recently, CNET UK reviewed the most entry-level member of the series, the LG Optimus L3. It has a 3.2-inch screen with 240x320-pixel resolution, and unlike its bigger brothers, runs on the outdated Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. In addition, it has a 800MHz CPU and a disappointing 3-megapixel camera.

Though it isn't … Read more

Texting isn't just for utility, it's a sport too

The Olympics aren't the only competition taking place this summer, there's also the U.S. LG National Texting Competition. And Austin Wierschke, 17, has become the reining champ for the second year in a row.

Wierschke, who hails from Rhinelander, Wis., is now deemed "the fastest texter in America," according to the Associated Press.

His secret? "Abnormally fast thumbs," he told the news source.

The competition, which takes place in New York's Times Square, tests texters on three skills: speed, accuracy, and dexterity. The thumb athletes must text blindfolded, know "text speak,&… Read more

Apple, Samsung U.S. smartphone sales jump 43 percent

Apple and Samsung continue to grab smartphone sales from the rest of the industry.

Collectively, the two companies watched their U.S. sales increase by 43 percent from the second quarter of 2011 to the same quarter of 2012, says a new report from NPD Group. Over the same time, combined sales for other companies, such as HTC, Motorola, and LG, fell by 16 percent.

For the quarter, Apple carved out 31 percent of the smartphone market, while Samsung captured 24 percent. That left HTC with 15 percent, Motorola with 12 percent, and LG with just 6 percent.

"By … Read more

LG Optimus Elite to get QuickMemo

The LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile will get QuickMemo through an over-the-air update.

According to the carrier, the feature will be available in August.

QuickMemo lets you jot down notes and draw doodles with your fingers on top of the phone's screen image (though virtual notebook paper is an option too).

To access QuickMemo on the Elite, you'll have to push and hold both buttons of the volume rocker. Four different brush types and 16 colors are at your disposal as well, and you can save and send your memos via e-mail, text, Bluetooth, and more.

I … Read more

Apple gains users, but Samsung still the mobile-phone leader

Apple scored the greatest gain in market share among cell phone makers last quarter but was stuck in third place behind Samsung and LG.

Looking at the three months ending with June, ComScore pegged Apple with a 15.4 percent share of the U.S. mobile-phone market, up from 14 percent the prior three months. Such growth surpassed that of the other top three players, each of which saw a dip in market share.

Samsung's chunk of the market fell to 25.6 percent from 26 percent, but the company remained the dominant player. In second place was LG … Read more

Watch live TV on your phone! No, really

A while back, when I first heard about broadcasters' plans to build their own network to deliver local and live TV to smartphones, I have to admit I chuckled a little.

The idea that broadcasters, with little to no experience in the wireless world, could accomplish such a feat seemed ludicrous. Equally laughable was the idea that people would tune into Judge Judy on their phones. With so many other stories floating around (at the time, the big question was: when will the iPhone come to Verizon?) it was easy to ignore the seemingly half-baked project.

But more than two … Read more

Crave giveaway: LG Nitro HD signed by star comics editor Bob Schreck

Congrats to Junryo W. of Clarement, Calif., for winning last week's giveaway, a bag of Comic-Con swag straight from the show floor.

For the second and final part of our Comic-Con giveaway, we have a legendary prize. No, literally. We're giving away an AT&T LG Nitro HD smartphone signed by Bob Schreck, editor in chief of Legendary Comics, the book-publishing arm of Legendary Entertainment (Christopher Nolan's "Batman" movies, "Wrath of the Titans," "Sucker Punch," "The Town"). Please note that you'll be responsible for securing your own voice and data plan. … Read more

LG Q2 profit $138M, but sales fall 11% on mobile weakness

LG still hasn't figured out its mobile business yet.

The Korean technology conglomerate posted a net profit of 159 billion Korean won, or $138 million, compared with a year-earlier profit of 109 billion Korean won, or $94 million. Revenue, however, fell 10.6 percent to 12.86 trillion Korean won, or $11.18 billion.

The biggest culprit was a 28.6 percent decline in sales for its mobile division, whose operating loss also widened a bit over a year ago. Despite a decline in sales in the home entertainment business, the company's profit in the area more than … Read more